Life History of Jens Sorensen
Born: 7 August 1825--Died: 4 August 1902
Father: Soren Pedersen
Mother: Ane Jensen
Wife: 1) Johanne Johansen, 2) Anna Katrine Jensen
Children: Ane Dorthea, Hans, Lars, Sophia Petrea
Jens was the first child born to Soren and Ane in Uggerlose, Holbaek, Denmark. Later, Jens was to welcome six more children into this family. The last six children were born in Ondlose, Holbaek.
Very little is known about Jens in his early life, but knowing something of the country he lived in can give a better feel of what his life might have been like. Denmark was virtually encircled by water. The climate was quite windy, and the weather could change from day to day due to the winds. Denmark comprised about 500 islands, but only about 100 of these islands were habitable. No Dane lived more than 35 miles from the sea. Fish and animal products such as cattle, pigs, chicken, cheese, and butter were plentiful. The principle vocations of the time were agricultural and maritime. Jens followed the line of agriculture; at a young age, he learned to farm and care for animals. In Jens’ time, two-thirds of the land in Denmark was used for farming, with grain being the principle crop. Windmills were used to grind the grain.
On 20 April 1850, when he was 24 years old, he married Johanne Johansen. They moved into Johanne’s parents’ home. Later, when Johanne’s parents died, the home became Jens’ and Johanne’s.
Jens spent his summers working on large farms. During the winter months, he would spend his time carving spoons and other kitchen equipment that was used in those days. Danes are known for their fine furniture, and Jens may have made his own furniture as well. It was also during Jens’ time that Hans Christian Andersen became famous for the fairy tales he wrote. Hans put new books out at Christmas time; perhaps Jens enjoyed reading these books.
Jens was past 18 when the Danish military commenced compulsory national service. Since 1849, the Danish military defense has been based upon compulsory national service. All young men must register at the age of 18 and are subject to nine months conscript service.
Jens’ family belonged to the Lutheran Church, which was the State religion. The Church was financed by church tax, which was levied on church members along with ordinary income tax.
The Danes are known to respect their aristocratic traditions as they revere their royalty.
After Johanne gave birth to her first child, her arthritis problems gradually worsened. Johanne and Jens became the parents of four healthy children. As the children grew, they became helpful to their mother.
After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in the USA, missionaries were sent out to preach the gospel to others in many different countries. The missionaries that were sent to Denmark spent 2.5 years serving, and, like other missionaries, they paid their own way. By 1874, little branches of the LDS Church had been started in Denmark. Jens and his family were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The missionaries at that time were encouraging the new converts to move to the Rocky Mountains. The converts were told that within the Rocky Mountains they could form their own communities, live their new religion, get land, and build their homes. Jens was nearly 49 years old at this time when he decided to sell their home and move to Hyrum, Utah, where a brother and others from Denmark had moved.
Jens and his wife decided to sell their home, pack some belongings, and make a big change in their lives. They left for Liverpool, England, never to return to Denmark. They did not know that many years later a grandson (Hans Sorensen, Jr.) would return as a missionary. Jens and his family boarded the ship Idaho in Liverpool for New York City. The ship Idaho was built in 1869, so they sailed on a fairly new ship. The ship transported 3,057 Latter-day Saints in six emigrant voyages between Liverpool and New York City. These companies ranged in size from 150 to 806. The first passage began on 7 September 1870 and the last on 17 October 1877. Jens and his family were on the ship in June 1874 when the vessel encountered a terrific storm. Captain William Forsyth, who had brought fourteen LDS companies across the Atlantic in five different vessels, commented that there were too many Mormons on board for the ship to be harmed. He also added, according to the Church record, that for eighteen years, he had carried companies and had never heard of a vessel carrying Mormons being lost. On this occasion, the Idaho and Jens’ family arrived safely in New York City on 6 July 1874. Just four years later, the Idaho was wrecked on the Wexford coast with no loss to life. When Jens and his family reached New York, Jens made arrangements for his family to travel by train to Ogden, Utah. The train tracks from Omaha, Nebraska, to Ogden, Utah, had been finished in 1866. After arriving in Ogden, Jens and his family left Hyrum, Utah, in the transportation of that day: horse and wagon.
Jens’ brother and others greeted Jens’ family in Hyrum, and Peder, Jens’ brother, invited them to live with him for a short period. Jens bought four city lots in the southeast part of Hyrum and built a home for his family. Jens’ sons were old enough to help with this project. This same year (1874), two families, which Jens had known in Denmark, each decided to send one of their daughters to Utah. Jens sent his two sons, Hans and Lars, to Logan to get the girls. It was not unusual for Danish families to send one child ahead of the rest of the family. The two girls from Denmark were Anne Monsen (age 10) and Marie Jensen. Anne Monsen lived with Jens and his family while Marie Jensen lived with another Danish family. Anne Monsen lived with the Sorensens for one year before her parents arrived in Utah. When Anne came to live with the Sorensens, Jens’ youngest child, Sophia, was about 14 years old. With Johanne’s poor health, Sophia and Anne helped with the house duties. Anne would often brush and comb Johanne’s long hair. Anne once said that she thought Jens was a very kind man to his wife, and she never heard him speak a cross word to her. She said he did get a little upset at Sophia and herself for making too much noise in the house.
Johanne spent most of her time in bed or sitting in a chair. She could still crochet, knit, and do the family sewing. She would put her sewing on the table next to her chair and also use the table when she was served her meals. Jens enjoyed his family and was always close to them. The family stayed faithful to the LDS Church and did whatever they were asked to do for the betterment and growth of the Church.
Jens’ son, Hans, was married to C. Sophia Gregersen in December 1881, Hans and his new bride moved from Hyrum to College Ward to build their home and farm. Hans still stayed in close touch with his parents.
Two months after the Logan Temple was opened, Jens and his family went to the temple to be sealed to each other. Hans and Lars carried their mother through the temple on a chair. This work was done 23 July 1884; Johanne passed away just eight years later.
When Jens’ grandson (Hans Sorensen, Jr.) was an adult, he mentioned he could remember the year his grandmother, Johanne, died. He said he sat on the spring seat of the wagon next to his father, Hans, who drove the horses. The wagon was the hearse. The funeral was held in the old rock building on the northeast corner of the square in Hyrum, and then she was buried in the Hyrum cemetery. Hans, Jr., thought he was about eleven years old at the time. Hans, Jr., said that same year he remembered hauling hay for his grandfather. The hay was hauled with one horse and a small wagon. He also helped, along with a relative named Willie Petersen, weed their grandfather’s potato patch. Jens was fond of horses and kept them fat and slick.
Two years after Johanne’s death, Jens married Anna Katrine Jensen of Logan. They were united in marriage for seven years before Jens passed away. Jens became ill in 1902 and died at his daughter’s (Sophia Sorensen Petersen’s) home. Anna Katrine, Jens’ wife, moved back to Logan at that time.
The following is a newspaper article from The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah.
Some Cache Memories, 1 March 1895
On Friday a spruce young gentleman of 69 summers, with freshly starched cravat and smart gaiters, bearing upon his arm in true cavalier style, a blushing maiden just turned 64, applied to Clerk Matthews for a permit to unite their hearts and destinies. The ever obliging clerk complied with the request, and the happy couple left the Court House with a pair of singing hearts. They were Jens Sorensen of Hyrum and Anna Katrine Jensen of Logan. We wish them much joy.